Systems Engineer Expert

Systems Engineer Expert

K  is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer Expert (SETA) to support our customer in Chantilly, VA. The Senior Systems Engineer Expert serves as a SETA advisor providing high‑level technical expertise to our customer's mission. This role delivers independent systems engineering oversight, ensuring that government interests are protected throughout the design, development, integration, and sustainment of mission‑critical space systems. The engineer will guide multi‑disciplinary teams and contractors across the full systems engineering lifecycle, ensuring technical rigor, mission alignment, and compliance with DoD and Intelligence Community standards.

The position requires deep expertise in space system architectures, threat‑driven engineering, and the evaluation of emerging technologies for operational relevance. As a SETA professional, the engineer will work closely with government leadership, program offices, and mission partners to ensure resilient, effective, and future‑ready space capabilities.

• Innovative Projects: K ’s work is at the forefront of engineering, logistics, operations, science, program management, mission IT and cybersecurity solutions.
• Collaborative Environment:
  Join a dynamic team that thrives on collaboration and innovation, fostering a supportive and intellectually stimulating workplace.
• Impactful Work:
  Your contributions will be pivotal in designing and optimizing defense systems that ensure national security and shape the future of space defense.

• Provide SETA support to government program managers, offering independent technical assessments, engineering oversight, and acquisition support for space and counter space programs.
• Lead the development, integration, and optimization of space system architectures aligned with our customers mission objectives.
• Oversee system requirements development, verification, validation, and configuration management across complex multi‑domain systems.
• Conduct technical evaluations, design trade studies, and risk assessments to inform government decision‑making.
• Direct end‑to‑end lifecycle engineering activities, including concept development, prototyping, testing, deployment, and sustainment.
• Coordinate with intelligence analysts, operators, and mission partners to ensure system capabilities align with evolving threat environments.
• Assess contractor performance, technical deliverables, and engineering artifacts to ensure compliance with DoD, IC, and mission‑specific standards.
• Support integration of space domain awareness (SDA), counter space capabilities, and ISR systems into enterprise architectures.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, engineering baselines, and program‑level systems engineering artifacts.

• Location:
  
  Chantilly, VA and Reston, VA [On‑site]
• Travel Requirements:
  Minimal
• Working Hours:
  
  Standard 40 hours per week

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 12+ years of systems engineering experience, including direct work with space, counter space, or ISR systems within the DoD or Intelligence Community.
• Demonstrated expertise in systems engineering processes, including requirements development, architecture design, integration, and testing.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance with eligibility for a polygraph.
• Experience with DoD Architecture Framework (DoDAF), MBSE tools, or similar engineering frameworks.

• Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 15+ years of experience supporting space or counter space programs within the Intelligence Community or national security space enterprise.
• Experience with advanced modeling and simulation tools, digital engineering environments, or space domain awareness systems.

K  is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.